WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) announced today it has entered into new clinical
affiliations with Ochsner Health System in Louisiana and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, including
their Center for Telehealth. These affiliations will help enhance
access to high-quality, affordable health care services for
patients. Through these clinical affiliations, CVS Health will
provide prescription and visit information to the participating
health care organizations through the integration of secured
electronic health record (EHR) systems, which will help enhance
clinical care for patients served by the partnering organizations.
In addition, patients will continue to have access to clinical
support, medication counseling, chronic disease monitoring and
wellness programs at CVS/pharmacy stores and MinuteClinic, the
retail medical clinic of CVS Health.
"In this era of health care reform, we are pleased to work with
these health care organizations to develop collaborative programs
that enhance access to patient care, improve health outcomes and
lower health care costs in the communities they serve," said Troyen
A. Brennan, MD, Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health. "By integrating
our electronic medical records and information systems, we will
collectively have a more comprehensive view of our patients, which
can aid in health care decision making and help ensure patients
adhere to important medications for chronic diseases."
CVS/pharmacy currently has more than 7,800 retail pharmacy
locations across the U.S. where CVS pharmacists provide counseling
to patients to help them be adherent to their chronic disease
medications. In addition, MinuteClinic also plays an important role
by providing patients with timely, affordable and high-quality
walk-in health care. There are more than 900 MinuteClinic walk-in
medical clinics available at CVS/pharmacy retail stores.
MinuteClinic locations are open seven days a week, offering evening
hours with no appointment necessary and most health insurance is
accepted. The clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and
physician assistants who provide treatment for common family
illnesses and administer wellness and prevention services,
including health-condition monitoring for patients with chronic
diseases.
Affiliates' health care providers will receive data on
interventions conducted by CVS pharmacists to improve medication
adherence for their patients. The affiliation also encourages
collaboration between the health care providers and MinuteClinic
providers to improve coordination of care for patients seen at
MinuteClinic locations. Physicians affiliated with the
participating organizations will collaborate with MinuteClinic
practitioners to work closely on joint clinical programs and care
coordination activities. If more comprehensive care is needed,
patients can follow up with their primary care provider and have
access to the services at the medical center as appropriate. For
those patients who do not have regular access to health care,
MinuteClinic provides information to help patients in finding a
primary care physician and a greater opportunity for continuity of
health care services.
MinuteClinic, CVS/pharmacy and the participating health care
organizations will begin to work toward integrating EHR systems to
streamline and enhance communication. This integration will include
the electronic sharing of messages and alerts from CVS/pharmacy to
the health care organizations' physicians regarding medication
non-adherence issues. In addition, MinuteClinic will electronically
share patient visit summaries with the patient's primary care
physician when they are part of an affiliate organization and with
the patient's consent. MinuteClinic will continue its standard
practice of sending patient visit summaries to primary care
providers who are not affiliated with one of these participating
health care organizations via fax or mail, with patient
consent.
The new clinical affiliations announced here bring the total
number of health system and health care provider affiliations for
CVS Health and MinuteClinic to more than 50 major health systems
and health care providers across the country.
About CVS Health
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is a pharmacy
innovation company helping people on their path to better health.
Through our 7,800 retail pharmacies, more than 900 walk-in medical
clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 65 million
plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, we enable
people, businesses and communities to manage health in more
affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases
access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers
overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS
Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.
Contact:
Christina Beckerman
CVS Health
(401) 770-8868
christina.beckerman@cvscaremark.com
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140905/143585
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cvs-health-announces-new-clinical-affiliations-with-leading-health-care-organizations-in-louisiana-and-mississippi-300073803.html
SOURCE CVS Health